Timothy John (Sydlik) Melesenka, 51, died Aug. 30 in Miami, Fla., after a long illness.

Born March 15, 1955, in Allegheny County, he was the son of Agnes Melesenka and the late Thaddeus Sydlik.

He was raised in the Butler area and attended Moniteau High School before enlisting in the Navy. He served on the USS John F. Kennedy as an intelligence specialist.

After an honorable discharge, he attended Penn State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in education. He taught school in the New Kensington area.

He moved to Florida in 1986, where he continued to teach in West Palm Beach and then in the Broward County area. He loved working with children and taught in the gifted program at the middle school level.

His love for college football was reflected in his following of his favorite team, Penn State. He truly loved Joe Paterno and respected his coaching abilities. He was Penn State's No. 1 fan and decorated his home and car in "Blue and White."

Along with his mother, he is survived by five sisters, Mrs. Jerry (Roxann) Twentier of West Sunbury, Mrs. Kent (Cynthia) Collingwood of Sunrise, Fla., Robin Sydlik of Hollywood, Fla., Mrs. David (Kimberly) Cousins of Butler and Mrs. James (Monica) Wallace of New Galilee, Pa.; and two brothers, Alan Sydlik of Annandale, Va., and Francis Sydlik and his wife, Sheri, of Butler.

He also is survived by 18 nieces and nephews and six great-nieces and great-nephews.

<B>MELESENKA </B>— Friends of Timothy John (Sydlik) Melesenka, who died Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Louis Roman Catholic Church, 202 W. State St., West Sunbury. He will be buried at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.